{"id":14682,"date":"2006-02-10T20:15:00","date_gmt":"2006-02-10T20:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lookingcloser.wordpress.com\/2006\/02\/10\/specials-fords-firewall-collapse-christian-is-the-new-gay-gilliams-next\/"},"modified":"2012-11-12T14:15:27","modified_gmt":"2012-11-12T21:15:27","slug":"specials-fords-firewall-collapse-christian-is-the-new-gay-gilliams-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/lookingcloser\/2006\/02\/specials-fords-firewall-collapse-christian-is-the-new-gay-gilliams-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Specials: Ford’s Firewall collapse. "Christian is the new gay." Gilliam’s next."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Friday specials:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

CAN THE DECLINE OF HARRISON FORD\u2019S CAREER GET ANY MORE DEPRESSING?<\/span><\/strong>
\nMichael Atkinson<\/a> on Firewall<\/strong><\/em>: \u201cThe post-Die Hard<\/em> genre is on its last legs, and the movie is as tired in its bones as [Harrison] Ford, who at 63 has crossed the line from robust, no-nonsense manliness to doughy-creepy grumpster.\u201d (Thanks, GreenCine daily<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

And here\u2019s Peter T. Chattaway\u2019s review<\/a>:<\/p>\n

It is significant that Ford\u2019s first movie in years is not one of those serious dramas or offbeat comedies that he used to make whenever he wanted to prove that there was more to him than stunts and action sequences. Instead, Firewall is a back-to-the-basics thriller that echoes several of Ford\u2019s better-known films, such as Patriot Games and Air Force One. Once again, bad guys threaten his wife and children, and he does all the growling and punching that it takes to keep his family safe. The climactic fight scenes, which feature imperiled children and take place in an isolated locale, are reminiscent of Witness; and there are even elements of The Fugitive. But by bringing those other films to mind, Firewall underscores its own weaknesses; it simply lacks the firepower, the iconic status, the cultural subtext and the engaging supporting actors that made Ford\u2019s other suspense flicks so much fun.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Personally, I find it hard to believe that Ford\u2019s choices have become so consistently lame that I actually flinch when I see his name attached to a project. The Firewall <\/em>trailer is a painful example of inadvertent comedy. The guy used to be my big-screen hero, my favorite movie personality. Now, if he\u2019s headlining a film, you can almost guarantee it\u2019ll be formulaic, implausible, and full of lines like \u201cYou stay away from my family!\u201d To further complicate matters, he keeps playing guys with young children while he increasingly resembles somebody\u2019s great granddaddy.<\/p>\n

And apparently, as this recent interview shows<\/a>, he\u2019s not interested in doing much else<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time for an intervention. I nominate Dennis Quaid and Ed Harris to step in and try to talk some sense into him.<\/p>\n

Until then, I continue to hope that that new Indiana Jones project will collapse. Better to rejuvenate the series with a qualified actor\u2013I nominate Nathan Fillion <\/strong>(Serenity<\/em>)\u2013than to turn in an indulgent-but-disappointing nostalgia trip.<\/p>\n

Who would you nominate to play the next Indiana Jones? Josh Holloway (Lost<\/em>\u2018s Sawyer)? Matthew Fox (Lost<\/em>\u2018s Jack)? Joaquin Phoenix (to follow in his brother\u2019s footsteps)?<\/p>\n

SPEAKING OF FIREWALL<\/em>\u2026
\n<\/span><\/strong>Peter Chattway adds:<\/p>\n

Christian audience members might take note, however, of the fact that one of the key minor characters, a young co-worker of Jack\u2019s named Bobby (Matthew Currie Holmes), is a born-again Christian who flirts amiably with Jack\u2019s secretary (Mary Lynn Rajskub), plays guitar in a worship band and has \u201cWhat a Friend We Have in Jesus\u201d as a ring-tone on his cell phone. He\u2019s a caricature, perhaps, but a friendly one; and between this and the \u201cJesus rocks!\u201d neighbors from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, it would seem that evangelical Christians are on their way to becoming the quirky sidekicks that gay characters have been for years.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

SPEAKING OF SLUMPS\u2026<\/strong>
\nCan Terry \u201cQuixote\u201d Gilliam get back in the saddle<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Friday specials: CAN THE DECLINE OF HARRISON FORD\u2019S CAREER GET ANY MORE DEPRESSING? Michael Atkinson on Firewall: \u201cThe post-Die Hard genre is on its last legs, and the movie is as tired in its bones as [Harrison] Ford, who at 63 has crossed the line from robust, no-nonsense manliness to doughy-creepy grumpster.\u201d (Thanks, GreenCine daily) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1051,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[642,258],"class_list":["post-14682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","tag-harrison-ford","tag-peter-chattaway"],"yoast_head":"\nSpecials: Ford's Firewall collapse. "Christian is the new gay." Gilliam's next.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Friday specials: CAN THE DECLINE OF HARRISON FORD'S CAREER GET ANY MORE DEPRESSING? 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